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Composer

 

Forrest Pierce is a contemporary American composer of classical music. He was born on August 22, 1963, in San Francisco, California. Pierce grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. He began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. Pierce attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Pierce's compositions are known for their intricate harmonies and use of extended techniques. He has written works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestra, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Some of his most notable works include "The Seven Last Words of Christ," "The Passion of St. Thomas More," and "The Book of Job." "The Seven Last Words of Christ" is a choral work that sets the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross to music. The piece was commissioned by the St. John's Episcopal Church in Detroit and premiered in 2006. It has since been performed by choirs around the world. "The Passion of St. Thomas More" is an oratorio that tells the story of the English lawyer and statesman who was executed for refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England. The piece was commissioned by the University of Michigan and premiered in 2012. "The Book of Job" is a chamber work for soprano, baritone, and string quartet that sets passages from the biblical book of Job to music. The piece was commissioned by the University of Michigan and premiered in 2015. In addition to his work as a composer, Pierce is also a professor of music at the University of Redlands in California. He has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition and the American Composers Forum's National Composition Contest. Pierce's music has been described as "thoughtful and deeply felt" by critics. His use of complex harmonies and unconventional techniques has earned him a reputation as one of the most innovative composers of his generation. Despite his success, Pierce remains humble and dedicated to his craft, always striving to create music that is both beautiful and meaningful.

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